Despite the disappointing season, manager Bobby Cox is looking toward 2009 with rose-colored glasses. He believes every problem this year was caused by injuries to his pitching staff. The revamped starting staff will pitch more innings, so the bullpen can pitch fewer and thus will blow fewer leads. Healthy position players will hit more than singles, and they will string these hits together for big innings. And RF Jeff Francoeur will not ground into double plays with the bases loaded.
BIGGEST NEEDS: The Braves need another power hitter to complement 3B Chipper Jones. That task can't always fall to C Brian McCann, who needs days off during a long season. The Braves are keeping their fingers crossed that RF Jeff Francoeur delivers more power next season, but they know they can't count on that. ARRIVALS: RHP Javier Vazquez (trade with White Sox), LHP Boone Logan (trade with White Sox), C David Ross (free agent from Red Sox), RHP Kenshin Kawakami (free agent from Japan), RHP Derek Lowe (free agent from Dodgers).
DEPARTURES: LHP Mike Hampton (free agent, signed with Astros), RHP Jorge Julio (free agent, signed with Brewers), RHP John Smoltz (free agent, signed with Red Sox).
FREE AGENTS: LHP Tom Glavine, LHP Will Ohman, RHP Elmer Dessens, RHP Julian Tavarez, LHP Chuck James (non-tendered).
Whether Glavine pitches this season depends on how quickly and how well he recovers from last season's left elbow surgery. The Braves would love to keep Ohman, depending on the price tag. The bullpen was such an Achilles' heel that Dessens, Julio and Tavarez most likely will all be invited to spring training.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: RF Jeff Francoeur, 2B Kelly Johnson, 1B Casey Kotchman.
It's probably not possible for Francoeur to have a worse season than he did this year. At least that's what he and the Braves are counting on, and why they shouldn't have to go the hearing route, even though Francoeur has not been happy with the length or the dollars offered in proposals before the previous two seasons. Johnson really kicked his offense into gear in September.
IN LIMBO: OF Matt Diaz may have lost his left field platoon spot when he missed four months with a torn-up left knee, courtesy of an unpadded section of the wall in Miller Park. He could be a candidate for a trade package with rookie RHP Charlie Morton and rookie LHP Jo-Jo Reyes, whose lack of improvement exasperated Cox.
MEDICAL WATCH:
3B Chipper Jones (sore right shoulder) has acute tendinitis, and he'll spend the offseason rehabbing it.
LHP Tom Glavine (left elbow surgery in August 2008) expects to be recovered by spring training.
RHP Peter Moylan (Tommy John surgery in May 2008) won't return any sooner than April.
RHP Rafael Soriano (ulnar nerve transposition surgery in August 2008, small bone spur in posterior of right elbow removed) is expected to be ready to pitch again by spring training.
RHP Tim Hudson (Tommy John surgery in August 2008) could miss the entire 2009 season, although a late-season activation is his goal.
